Abstract

Point-of-care HIV RNA testing and immediate antiretroviral therapy initiation in young adults seeking out-patient care in Kenya

Sanders, E. J. Chirro, O. Oduor, C. Mangi, J. Wahome, E. Price, M. A. Gelderblom, H. C. van der Elst, E. M. Graham, S. M.
AIDS. 2019; 33923-926

Permanent descriptor

https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000002110

: We evaluated outcomes of an HIV-1-testing intervention using rapid HIV tests followed by point-of-care Xpert Qual testing for HIV-1 RNA. Of 706 young urgent-care seeking participants evaluated, 24 (3.4%) had chronic HIV (antibody-positive), 3 (0.4%) acute HIV-1 (Qual-positive, antibody-negative), and 3 (0.4%) early HIV-1 infection (Qual-positive, antibody-discordant). Overall, 21 (70.0%) diagnosed patients started antiretroviral therapy after a median of 4 days (range 0-71). HIV-1 RNA testing led to an increase in confirmed diagnoses by 25%.